North Korea vows to restart nuclear facilities

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea has vowed to restart mothballed facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex which were closed in 2007 as part of an international nuclear disarmament deal.

The announcement today follows weeks of warlike rhetoric from North Korea, including threats to launch nuclear strikes against the U.S. The country has also declared that making nuclear arms and a stronger economy are top priorities.

A spokesman for the General Department of Atomic Energy says the Nyongbyon facilities to be restarted include a graphite-moderated 5 megawatt reactor and a uranium enrichment plant.

A statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency says the measure is part of efforts to resolve the country's acute electricity shortage but also for "bolstering up the nuclear armed force both in quality and quantity."